Has anyone been to Trapani lately (July 2013)

[Sybaris]

Has anyone been to Trapani lately?
More specifically we wonder if there is still free mooring, and if so where. And if you still need to call port control before entering.
Cheers
Per

 

[multihullsailor6]

Hi Sybaris,

My info dates from late last year:

All boats entering ( approx. 500 m before the port's breakwater ) or leaving Trapani port are to communicate with Trapani VTS on channel 10 to inform them of your intentions.

If you want to anchor within the port area, you must advise Trapani VTS of your intentions and obtain permission before dropping the anchor. They will ask you for a mobile telephone number so have it handy.

You can still tie up at the town quay for a night.

I can also recommed Columbus Marina just north of the anchoring area, they are small but have decent showers.

 

[Etesian]

I was there July 1 this year. You can still anchor in the harbor next to the lighthouse for 48 hours. Call the coast guard on channel 10. Holding is mud. Good shelter. There were probably about 10 boats anchored.

 

[Sybaris]

Hi Roger,

I totally forgot to answer and say thanks for the information which was spot on.

We visited Trapani for a few days and the procedure was just like you explained. We were on anchor a few days, and went into Columbus Marina (a T shaped floating pontoon) to get water (which turned out to be non potable). They charged us 100€ (incl. water & electricity), but when I called them on the phone they for some reason thought we were a catamaran and quoted 400€ for one night. Moral of the story - make sure you bargain with the marinas here before you go in.

Cheers,
Per

 

[multihullsailor6]

Hi Per,

Glad my info helped.

Surprised at the rates you were quoted by Columbus Marina -next time there speak to Jean Paul the manager.

As I understand it all the water in marinas in Sicily is basically non-potable.

 

[SamanthaTabs]

Following this thread with great interest as we're headed to Trapani in a couple of weeks. Concerned with the comment of non potable water in Sicilian marinas, spending our winter months in Licata.

We have a seagull filtering system, does anyone else have this and is it enough? We filled up last year at Cala d'Or, Mallorca coast. Water was disgusting even through filter

 

[multihullsailor6]

In my experience the Sicilian water, which comes from desalination plants, is potable but it does have a slight smell and taste. I used it without problems for coffee but reverted to buying bottled water for drinking purposes as do the locals.

Though I have a charcoal-based water filtering system on board I do add Yachticon Aqua Clean chemical powder when filling up the tank which takes care of the smell.

 

[SamanthaTabs]

Thank you

 

[jimbaerselman]

The Seagull systems I'm aware of are capable of filtering out viruses, and probably better called water purifiers; Australian manufacture.

If so, expensive kit, but very effective, from about £1,000 for an in line tap filter and upwards of that for bigger installations. Maintenance needed.

 

[silver-fox]

Hi Per,

Glad my info helped.

Surprised at the rates you were quoted by Columbus Marina -next time there speak to Jean Paul the manager.

As I understand it all the water in marinas in Sicily is basically non-potable.

This is a new one on me!

I (and everyone else on board) have drunk water unfiltered and untreated in any way at Marzamemi, Ragusa and Sciacca without any ill effects, nor did anybody warn me, nor did I see any signs.

 

[SeamanStaines]

The Seagull systems I'm aware of are capable of filtering out viruses, and probably better called water purifiers; Australian manufacture.

If so, expensive kit, but very effective, from about £1,000 for an in line tap filter and upwards of that for bigger installations. Maintenance needed.

Did you mean these? http://www.purewateronline.co.uk/Seagull-IV.html We have had one for three years and it has been the best money we have spent on the boat. Since fitting it we have never had to buy bottled water (apart from once) and it has coped with water everywhere, apart from Cala D'or Marina in Mallorca which I think was beyond hope (the only time we resorted to bottled). To be fair the marina staff did warn us, I just thought the filter would cope. We are on our second filter so I reckon about one and a half years to a filter (permanent live aboard)

Even at relatively low cost bottled water we got our money back ages ago, and thats without all the lugging heavy bottles from the supermarket.

Highly recommended

 

[tri39]

We anchored Aqua Blue in Trapani outer harbour NW corner for one night in early July. Didn't call Harbour and no-one visited us. Holding was not great as we dragged the following morning in only 20kts, altho we were then brought up by the Rocna snagging a heavy line. It's an interesting town, some walk from the anchorage, but improved beyond recognition from my last visit (by car) in 1990!! The Sicilian water we took on in Ragusa was much better than subsequently in Porto Colom Majorca. I'm afraid in southern Italy some people can try it on, but 400euros is frankly extortion! But Sciacca was only 20 euros for a trimaran!

 

[jimbaerselman]

Did you mean these? http://www.purewateronline.co.uk/Seagull-IV.html We have had one for three years and it has been the best money we have spent on the boat. Since fitting it we have never had to buy bottled water (apart from once) and it has coped with water everywhere, apart from Cala D'or Marina in Mallorca which I think was beyond hope (the only time we resorted to bottled). To be fair the marina staff did warn us, I just thought the filter would cope. We are on our second filter so I reckon about one and a half years to a filter (permanent live aboard)

Yes, that's the kit. The price has come down compared to the costs I saw in Oz 3 or 4 years back. Good news!